EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING OF OTAGO BRANCH The animal meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute was' commenced last evening, when Mr D. Forsyth presided over a large attendance ! A special welcome was extended to Dr P. Comrie, of Edinburgh, and to Miss M. Magill, Dip. See. Sc. The chairman announced that Dr Comrie was a distinguished scholar and past president of the Scottish Educational Institute, and that Miss Magill was' the immediate past president of the N.Z.E.I. and the first lady president in -fifty-one years. ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report stated that the roll number for the year was -181, as against 5*21 for the previous year. There were also fifteen honorary members and twenty-six junior members. The numbers at the present date were 126 full members, six honorary members, twenty-seven junior members, and one life member. The junior members were all “ rationed teachers.’’ Tito main cause of the decrease in membership was owing to the determination of South Otago to form a separate branch. Activity had been maintained among the snb-brauches, lecturers 'being provided when desired. During the year the executive prepared reports for the N.Z.E.I. on (1) the “ A ’’ certificate regulations, and (2), status, staffing, and salaries. The latter report was presented at the last annual meeting of the N.Z.E.1., and was to be presented again, after submission to all branches, at the 1934 meeting. The committee had been very much alive to the unsatisfactory- position of the superannuation fund, and had closely studied the proposed Bill. A full criticism was forwarded to the N.Z.E.I. executive, and on February 9 a special general meeting, at which there was a large attendance of members, was held' to enable members to express their views, and to consider the concessions which the N.Z.E.I. executive were proposing to agree to. The executive had closely watched tlie question of rationed teachers, and had from time to time made representations to the N.Z.E.I. as thought advisable. It was to he distinctly understood that the ■ institute regarded the scheme only as a temporary measure. In addition the Committee of Management had been enabled to obtain monetary grants from the N.Z.E.1., for two teachers in difficult circumstances.

The matter of welcoming and entertaining exchange teachers coming to Otago had, during tho year, been placed upon a more satisfactory footing.

Tho C.O.M. had made strong representations concerning the staffing of intermediate schools, and their representatives had charge of an important remit at the annual conference advocating a. three years’ course. The committee were pleased to be able to report that they assisted in the agitation which resulted in an important concession in tho regulations—i.e., the admission at the beginning of the term in which the child became six years of age. Other important matters dealt with were the reports on various matters sent on by the N.Z.E.I. from tho 1933 conference, class room .supplements, tho film problem, progress cards, vocational guidance, and agricultural clubs. The executive regretted to record the deaths during tlie year of Mr W. R. . Mcclmolis, of the Alexandra D.ll. .School,, and Mr J. Waddell Smith, so long head master of High Street School. It regretted also the removal by death of two great friends of education, the late. Sir Thomas K. Sidey. and the Hon-. G. M. Thomson.,

Reports were also received from tho following sub-branches :—Tapanui, Palmerston, Waitaki, and Dunedin.

The report was adopted

S EGRETARY COMPLIMENTED

Tlie statement of accounts was presented by the honorary secretary (Mr W. F. Abel), after which the auditor (Mr A. Milne) paid a tribute to the efficient work done by Mr Abe! and complimented him upon the able manner in which lie had handled the bookkeeping side of the institute’s affairs. Applause.) The meeting was adjourned until today.